Test Seven is history...

..........................................and here is Pam's picture to close things out for us. Also, it's been announced that callbacks will be given at Headquarters later this evening. Also, information as to location, starting number, and times for test dogs and first running dogs will be posted at Headquarters. Please see this site, or Jean's page, for those details later tonight.


Thanks for reading!

Just a few dogs remain...

...........................................and Test Seven will be in the books. Dog #108 has just been called to line.


Here, Gary Unger takes the hen pheasant from #91 FC-AFC Small Craft Advisory "Rough" after the first blind and hands it off before tackling the second blind.

This test is winding down...

...Lynne DuBose takes the last bird from #83, FC-AFC Great Bunns of Fire and hands it to judge Bruce Ahlers, DVM.

Some candid photos of early running dogs on this blind...

............................................Steve O'Connell sends #18, FC-AFC Watuaga's Bull Gator "Bull", on the long blind while Kim Johnson waits in the blind with #21, AFC Super High Flyer.

We'll get this test done today...

...the test dogs ran at 4:30 p.m. and running dogs are moving quickly on this short four-minute test.

Here Yvonne Hays leaves the line with #126, Birdy.

Seventh Series double land blind

...........................................For the seventh test of this National week, we've made a short move from the Simonds' property; now we are basically in the "front yard" of John and Martha Russell's beautiful Vermont estate. You won't be able to see much about the test from this photo, but there is a short blind at a distance of 45 yards on the left planted at a bush. The long blind is 200 yards out along a side hill. Off to the right at 155 yards a set of guns shoots and throws a poison bird when the dog gets to the line and then the judges give the handler a number so that he or she can commence with running the test.


It will be very helpful when Pam Ingham finishes her drawing and I'll post it whenever I get it.

Wait no more...

........................................for Pam's drawing of Test Six's water blind. Here it is, courtesy of my camera

All the pieces to the puzzle...

...Joe Broyles accepts delivery of the bird from his dog, Quick, and hands it over to the judge.

Rumor has it...

...that we will move after this test to nearby property for Test Seven, a land blind.

Here, Tommy Parrish and Chase leave the line after the water blind.

Intense concentration...

...Judy Rasmusson monitors her dog's progress on the blind through binoculars...

...and Peter Goodale studies the end of the blind from his vantage point in the holding blind.

Double Duty...

...well, in a convoluted sense, anyway. This photo shows the white-coat chair person out scenting the point, which he does every ten dogs, while the blind planter (he's in partially submerged and in dark clothing deep of the next point back) has just put out another duck and is wading back to his holding blind where he will be out of sight.

Still no official word on whether or not we'll see the start of another test today. This one should finish about 2 p.m. or thereabouts...

 

Changing of the guard...

.........................................While the blind planter and white-coat/point scenting person are being changed out, Mac DuBose waits in the last holding blind with #11, FC-AFC Gimme Five More.

Back to the sixth...

....................................................Here's where we are in the line-up. Thus far, work is pretty similar without much really good work.

Zip--Zap

Two views of the "mobile blog post"...(I've been asked to put this up--please feel free to use your delete key--Ha.) 

Puttin' on the ritz--Worker's Party rewards the workers...

...Who come from all time zones and give unselfishly of their time to make these Nationals run smoothly. The party, held downstairs at the Town & Country last night, included baked chicken and ham with all the trimmings and Ben & Jerry's ice cream sundaes, (build-your-own), were available for dessert

Here are a few snapshots from last night's party. There is one taken during the raffle, one of John Parrott squiring Martha Russell around the dance floor, Newt and Karen Cropper puttin' on the ritz, one of Bill Eckett/Chris Ledford/Terry Rotschafer  and general photo.  

Two views of the sixth--water blind

One view is taken on the line. From this position, you cannot see the white-coated person sitting out in a chair on the sloping hillside to the left of the pond and the blind. 

The second view is taken from a location toward the gallery so that you can see where the white-coat is placed. This person does have a function...he scents the point every 10 dogs. (The actual blind planter is hidden in the woods.)

The person in the chair certainly seems to attract many dogs once they approach a view where they can see him. There is much pull to the left (less angle and H2O to contend with overall) and the white coat contributes to that.  

Kicking off the sixth...

......................the first dog has run the Test Six water blind, which is set up in Pete and Kate Simonds legendary stick pond.


I'll post some pictures in a few minutes. By now you've heard the results from Wicked Wednesday, with 27 dogs dropped (posted on Jean's page--she has 26 listed but her numbers don't include #119, Stan Chiras, who had to scratch Susie before the start of the fifth due to an injury that is getting worse) from the fifth test...and 50 dogs are remaining to vie for 2008 National Amateur Field Champion.


(Photo shot during the test dogs.)